P.S. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". These recommended links below will help you save money and book your trip: We use all the companies listed here or on the resource page. Name of The Day. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. "The Gasparilla Day Parade, the big parade, is the third largest parade in this country after only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl parade. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. Wikipedia, 2022. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. Human hand found in Florida attic with coins, treasure map - ajc Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. 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Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! What year did Gasparilla start? Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic - USA TODAY The ship at the center of it all: A history of the Jose Gasparilla II "Either my great-grandfather made the best, most elaborate pirate hoax ever and never shared it with anyone or he really did find some treasure on the Hillsborough River. Enjoy. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Accept Read More. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. The battle raged and the story goes that as Jose Gaspar realized the inevitable, he stood on the bow of the ship and stated something like Gaspar dies by his own hands. "But if you're gonna make up the myth, you know, go big, and so why not make him, you know, all pirates rolled into one and, you know, the baddest of them all," Rodney Kite-Powell, a historian at the Tampa Bay History Center and Director of the Touchstone Map Library said. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. (4) The person who gets most of the credit for the Gasparilla myth is John Gomez who drowned around 1900 at the age of 122. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. 1. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneer s," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Afterwards, he sailed his ship, the Floridablanca, to the Gulf Coast and set up a pirate base on what is now known as Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. To learn more, visit our. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When he was captured and offered the option of going to prison or joining the navy, he chose the latter, serving with distinction for several years before organizing a mutiny against a dictatorial captain and fleeing to Florida with a stolen ship. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. Lots of shells and jewelry and other gifts. Rather than be captured by the United States Navy, he wrapped an anchor chain around his leg and jumped overboard, the heavy metal dragging him out of sight into the deep blue waters. Have you ever hunted a treasure story? | Friendly Metal Detecting Forum There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. It does not store any personal data. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? The prices are great and you can walk more than one foot without seeing some adorable little trinket that you just can't live without. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? After sustaining heavy damage, the famed Spanish pirate tied himself to his anchor and leaped to his watery death apparently not wanting to be killed at the hands of the enemy. The Real Treasure Hunters have come a long way from social media in their hunt for the treasure of Jose Gaspar in the Peace River. Finally Pirates Cove, which is on the southern tip of Connecticut may house these valuable chests. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. Treasure Hunters May Have Found Jos Gaspar's Pirate Vessel - YouTube Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co 5 1 #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach Speciality & Gift Shops Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Fun shop with good prices! In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. This particular lost treasure consists of a bunch of silver coins, ingots and even pieces of jewelry. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. Jean Lafitte. Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Gasparilla: Was the Legendary Spanish Pirate Jose Gaspar Real? The Legend of the Pirate Gasparilla | Coastal History They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. All rights reserved. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. Or they were always togahter. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. Peace River treasure hunters make cable TV debut in search of Old hand, coins and treasure map found in Florida attic - The Vintage News Okay, that was. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla , is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period . It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Save. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. "And it was from that little nugget of information that came from the Charlotte Harbor railroad about a pirate named Gaspar that the whole legend of Gasparilla and Jose Gaspar came about, but it was Ye Mystic Krewe that fleshed it out. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. Leaving soon? This was to prove his doom as the ship he had targeted was no harmless cargo ship but in fact the USS Enterprise, a heavily armed and very dangerous pirate hunter. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. He told where the body would be found and a sketch was prepared under his direction, and in recent years in the exact location as described, the skeleton of a beheaded woman was found.". Similar Names. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. Some say that as this disguised ship was sailing by, the aging pirate and his crew were in the process of dividing up the spoils as an act of retirement. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. TAMPA, Fla. - Docked in downtown Tampa, the Jose Gasparilla II is one of the most iconic parts of Gasparilla and a year-round reminder of Tampa's biggest party and quirkiest tradition. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. Rogers lost interest in the hunt after this and it is said he lived near his treasure to guard it for the remainder of his life. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. Florida at this time was in its Second Spanish Period which runs from 1783 to 1821. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Pirate treasure rumors. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". It's part of our family now.". Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. Treasure hunting can be a fun and exciting activity. Jose Gaspar: More myth than man - baynews9.com 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. Leading a group of escaped convicts, Gaspar with his stolen ship established a home base in 1783 in the area of Charlotte Harbor, north of the present day Fort Myers on an Island he named "Gasparilla." He is said to have also taken that name for himself as it means "Gaspar the outlaw." Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. Galleon of Gold. Jose Gaspar Treasure - MapQuest link to 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Gasparilla not only granted Lopez permission but also bestowed his blessing on his long-time friend, providing a ship and several men to accompany him back to Spain. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife and children, gathered together a nice lot of cut-throats, stole the prize vessel of the Spanish Fleet, and escaped. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. There are at least 3 different locations said to hold his riches in Connecticut. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. According to historians, it was a real man named Juan "Panther John" Gomez from Gasparilla Island, or as he was known locally, John, or Panther Key John. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. One such account concerns Maria Louise, a lovely Spanish princess, who was returning to Spain after a journey to Mexico with 11 Mexican princesses who were to be educated and married in Spain. But, now? Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. Jos Gaspar. As the story goes, the pirate Jose Gaspar was hunting for the USS Enterprise in 1821; onboard was Juan Gmez, the man who lived to tell the tale. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. Gasparilla had decided to retire following the sale of Florida to the United States, and was dividing his treasure (valued at six times the purchase price of the entire state of Florida) between his crew. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. Who has not heard the rumor which has been going on in St. Augustine that Six Flags is coming to St. Johns County and will be constructed off of State Road 206? This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. At The Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. visitors and locals can find treasures of all kinds. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, no pirate was more feared in the southern United States than Jose Gaspar. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date.